My Turn: Supporting Veterans by reaching out to representatives

Major Nidal Hasan was convicted of killing 13 people and wounding 32 others in the shooting at Fort Hood on November 5, 2009.

It's been heartwarming this week to see the many ways people have come up with to say thank you to our veterans.

But the fact is we're not always there for those who have risked their lives to protect our country. This week, our news team reported on one such situation.

The victims of the shootings at Ft. Hood, Texas four years ago are still just that - victims! This time, it's our government that is treating them wrongly.

As Jon Evans pointed out so eloquently, these men and women are being denied benefits and money simply because the government won't officially classify the shootings as a terrorist attack.

Jon followed that up with several instances in which people were quoted, and where it is written, that the shootings were characterized as terrorism.

The lip service claiming to be supportive of helping these victims has gone on now for four long years. Red tape can no longer be considered an excuse. Their lack of action is disrespectful and inexcusable.

I encourage you to read or watch Jon's story and then reach out to your representatives and tell them you'd like to see some action. These veterans certainly deserve it.

That's my turn. Now it's your turn. To comment on this segment, or anything else, email me at yourturn@wect.com.

Emailed comments from viewers:

Talk about adding insult to injury, the Ft. Hood shooter
continued to receive his full salary to the tune of $278,000+ shameful.
Now heaven knows how many years he'll sit in prison awaiting his execution at
tax payers expense. In my opinion at the time of sentencing he should have
immediately been stood up against a brick wall with a firing
squad carrying out the sentence.